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Pines grade-separation piles nearly complete; girders due by month'end as bids reviewed
Summary
City reported progress on the Pines grade-separation project: secondary-track piles are complete, mainline piles are being driven and girders are expected by month'end; staff are reviewing bids and hope to award and break ground in August.
City management updated the council on the Pines grade-separation project, saying BNSF has nearly finished driving piles for the mainline bridge supports and that long-lead girders are expected by the end of the month.
City Manager John Hellman said the secondary-track piles were previously installed; the current work is for mainline piles and requires track windows when trains are not present. To accommodate pile-driving equipment, Pines Avenue will be closed for a planned window (the city announced a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. closure this Thursday to allow work that requires the crossing to be blocked for safety).
Hellman told the council the city received four bids for the construction phase and that even the highest bid came in about $1.5 million under the engineer's estimate. He said staff found irregularities in some bids that required additional review by the city attorney's office and procurement staff, which has tied up staff time but that staff hope to bring a recommendation to award a contractor and to schedule a groundbreaking in August.
Council members and staff reiterated the project's complexity because of the need to coordinate with BNSF, the short windows to work while train traffic permits and the cost-savings of having the railroad perform some heavy work versus an alternate construction approach. Hellman said the city will coordinate photo and public events with funding partners when the groundbreaking date is set.
No formal council action was required; the item was an administrative progress report.
